ECLIPSE OF 1851. 



what resembled a Turkish cimeter, the northern edge being con-- 

 vex, and the southern concave. Towards the apex it bent suddenly 

 to the south, or upwards, as seen in the telescope. Its northern 

 edge was well defined, and of a deeper colour than the rest, espe- 

 cially towards its base. I should call it a rich carmine. The 

 southern edge was less distinctly denned, and decidedly paler. 

 It gave me the impression of a somewhat conical protuberance, 

 partly hidden on its southern side by some intervening substance 

 of a soft or flocculent character. The apex of this protuberance 

 was paler than the base, and of a purplish tinge, and it certainly 

 had a nickering motion. Its base was, from first to last, sharply 

 bounded by the edge of the moon. To my great astonishment, 

 this marvellous object continued visible for about five seconds, as 

 nearly as I could judge, after the sun began to reappear, which 

 took place many degrees to the south of the situation it occupied 

 on the moon's circumference. It then rapidly faded away, but it 

 did not vanish instantaneously. From its extraordinary size, 

 curious form, deep colour, and vivid brightness, this protuberance 

 absorbed much of my attention ; and I am, therefore, unable to 

 state precisely what changes occurred in the other phenomena 

 towards the end of the total obscuration. 



" The arc, from about 283 to the north point, was entirely free 

 from prominences, and also from any roseate tint." 



36. Although the different parties of observers scattered over 

 the path of the moon's shadow were not equally fortunate in having 

 a clear unclouded sky, they were all enabled to observe and record 

 the effects of the total obscuration upon the surrounding objects 

 and country. Dr. Robertson of Edinburgh, Dr. Robinson of 

 Armagh, and some others, witnessed the eclipse from an island 

 off the coast of Norway, in lat. 61 21', at a point in the path of 

 the axis of the shadow. The precursory phenomena corresponded 

 with those described by other observers. The atmosphere was, 

 however, obscured by clouds, which appeared to rush down in 

 streams from the place of the sun. The sea-fowl flocked to their 

 customary places of rest and shelter in the rooks. The darkness 

 at the moment of total obscuration was sudden, but not absolute ; 

 for the clouds had left an open strip of the sky, which assumed a 

 dark lurid orange, which changed to greenish colour in another 

 direction, and shed upon persons and objects a faint and unearthly 

 light. Lamps and candles, seen at fifty or sixty yards' distance, 

 were as visible as in a dark night, and the redness of their light 

 presented a strange contrast with the general green hue of every- 

 thing around them. " The appearance of the country," says Dr. 

 Robertson, "seen through the lurid opening under the clouds, 

 was most appalling. The distant peaks of the Tostedals and 



N 2 379 



